Awareness of Glaucoma Risks & Eye Exams Help Prevent Vision Loss

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“There has been a 22 percent increase since 2000, of open-angle glaucoma,” noted Leslie Doctor, M.D.

Westport, Connecticut (PRWEB)January 08, 2013

Connecticut Ophthalmologist Leslie Doctor, M.D. of Doctor & Associates with Fairfield County offices located in Westport, Norwalk and Wilton commented on the need for patients to be aware of their risks of glaucoma and the need for regular eye exams with glaucoma screenings to better manage the preventable vision loss from this eye disease. “Prevent Blindness America has designated January as National Glaucoma Awareness Month and shared some compelling information for patients to be aware of,” said Dr. Leslie Doctor. “The most recent data suggests that more than 2.8 million people over the age of 40 have the most common type of glaucoma called primary open-angle glaucoma. This reflects a 22 percent increase since 2000,” noted Dr. Doctor. “This is a considerable increase and means that everyone should consider themselves at risk for developing glaucoma and thus take the necessary steps of understanding their individual glaucoma risks and having regular eye exams with glaucoma screenings,” she explained.

There are a number of factors that may increase your risk of glaucoma. There is a direct relationship between your age and your chance of developing glaucoma. The risk increases considerably after the age of 40 and you are 6 times more likely to get glaucoma if you are over 60 years of age-even if you have no other family or medical history. Glaucoma risk is 4-9 times greater if you have any family history of glaucoma whatsoever and even greater if you have any other systemic or eye disease that compromises your circulation such as diabetes. Race also impacts glaucoma risk in that African-Americans have a genetic predisposition that exposes them to a 6-8 fold increased risk for glaucoma and in fact glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans. Patients of Hispanic descent over the age of 60 seem to be at increased risk and we also find that Asians appear to have higher risk for developing a type of glaucoma called narrow angle glaucoma.

“Fortunately with early detection, diagnosis and treatment vision loss form glaucoma is preventable,” commented Dr. Leslie Doctor. “Our glaucoma treatment options now encompass more effective glaucoma eye drops, safer and better lasers for glaucoma treatment and the availability of tiny implantable stents for glaucoma that help to reduce eye pressure,” Dr. Doctor summarized.

Doctor & Associates is a leading Connecticut eye care practice providing eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, diagnosis and management of diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses and optical services. For those patients in need of eye surgery, as a founding member of the Wilton Surgery Center, Doctor & Associates eye surgeons are able to provide eye surgery in a convenient, close to home and cost effective ambulatory surgery center.